Forthe uninitiated, this is a Bombayiite's view on the lifeline of Bombay, the local trains!
I’ve been commuting by Bombay local trains for a long time now. Being born and brought up here, I do possess this certain fearlessness about hanging on the train doors during peak hours which is a trait of a true
Bombayiite. The pleasure of standing near the door and letting the wind kiss your face as your waiting to alight at your station is divine! Ask anyone who’s been sitting on the 4th seat* or standing amongst 100s of people in crowded Bombay trains. After all these trains carry more than twice or thrice their capacity of commuters
during peak hours.
* For the ignoramus, these trains usually have seats meant for 3 people. However, in the forever adjusting and accommodating spirit of the city, during rush hours an additional person is allowed to fit in.
Overheard in a local:
Lady to Friend: My boss went on insulting me in front of the entire office today. I really wish someone just gives me a push or nudges me in the crowd. I really need to let out all the frustration by means of a fight.
Oh yes! You'll hear all this and much more in the locals. Trust me, no matter how much we complain of the crowds, the different stinks and sweats, the noise and so on, traveling in the locals will always give you more reasons to laugh than cry.
It’s raining vendors in Bombay locals, and no, I won’t be saying Hallelujah to that yet! Amidst all the mayhem, the local trains, especially the ladies compartments are also shopping complexes. In fact, they are the busy
shopper’s paradise. Vendors with all their wares from hairpins, brooches, combs, earrings, and other accessories trade in these trains. Oh, and before I forget, there also the fisher women, vegetable women trying to sell their stuff to women who have to cook again in the evening. It’s a win-win situation for all of us. The vendors get to display their goods to so many customers at the same time. The women save the trouble of going to the market and make fruitful use of their commuting time. Some of them even start cutting vegetables in the train itself to further save their cooking time.
Personally, I have nothing against these people. Bombay is a tough city and sometimes you really need to fight to survive. But then, there are times when these people stand at the entrance with all their baskets and make it very difficult for people to board or alight the trains. Sometimes they even sit near the door with their wares which really bugs people who have to necessarily hang at the door so that they don't miss getting down at the right station due to the crowd.
There is also a severe sense of desperation to be the first to board and alight a train amongst most of us. How else do you think you can manage to catch the best window seats or your favorite corner. Getting a place to sit in the local is like winning a million dollar lottery ticket for 75% commuters. And that reminds me, if I don't
end this post soon and leave, I might end up missing my train too. So time to bid adieu and rush to the station. (Dauda dauda bhaaga bhaagasa playing in my mind!)
